Folding car-step and trap-door.



A. V. WINEGARDEN.

FOLDING CAR STEP AND TRAP DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20. [915.

1,1 83,707 1 Patented May 16, 1911s.

1 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. F -l. Flgif.

32 WITNESSES.-

63 1 I WITNESSES: 9

A. V. WINEGARDEN.

FOLDING CAR STEP AND TRAP DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED 020.20.1915.

Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WMMMW THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

. pnrran sra'rns rarnnr orrroa.

AREY V. WINEGARDEN, 0F \NICI-IITA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T0 ELMERE. CRESSLER, OF VVICHITA, KANSAS.

FOLDING CAR-STEP AN D TRAP-DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AREY V. VVINEGARDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Folding Car-Step and Trap-Door, of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in folding carsteps and trap doors, and has particular reference to certainimprovements in the construction of these devices disclosed anddescribed in Patent No. 1,081,879, granted to me December 16, 1913.

It is an object of the present invention to simplify and strengthen thevarious operative parts of the device disclosed in my prior patent, andto improve the connection between the folding step and the hinged trapdoor, which connection admits of the separate and independent operationof the folding step and the trap door.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for housing in andcovering the various working parts to protect the same from the weather,such as rain, snow, sleet, and the like, which would otherwise rust outand prevent the free operation of the pivotally connected parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor releasing the connecting device between the step operating mechanismand the hinged door.

Other objects and advantages'of this invention will be more clearlybrought out in the following detail description of the present preferredembodiment of the in vention, which is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through one side of a platform of acar, showing in section the improved folding step in raised. orcollapsed position, and showing the trap door closed, the parts being inposition when not in use and usually when the car is in motion. Fig. 2is a similar view, disclosing the folding step opened, and showing thetrap door raised, so that the entrance to the car is open for use. Fig.3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the car platform, lookingtoward the inside of the improved step and door in the position of Fig.2. Fig. 4: is an end elevation of one side of the platform, showing theoperating handle partly in section, and showing the apron for housing inthe outer end of the mech anism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lowerend of a tier of car steps, showing the shield or apron behind which theimproved folding car step is inclosed, when folded, and showing theadjacent parts of the improved mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail enlargedsectional view of a connection be tween the trap door and the mechanismwhich operates the folding step, this view also showing the releasingbolt and its adjacent mechanism in releasing position. Fig. 7 is adetail perspective view of the releasing bolt. Fig. 8 is a detailperspective view of the tumbling block for connecting and-releasing theparts. Fig. 9 is a horizon tal sectional view through the connectionbetweenthe releasing bolt and the tumbling block, and the parts adjacentthereto. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the adjustableconnection between the door operating rack and the step foldingmechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail side elevational view of a slightlymodified form of operating means for turning the step folding shaft.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated bysimilar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 10designates the body of a car provided at one end and at its side with atier of steps 11 arranged in the usual manner.

The-lowermost fixed tread 12 of the tier of steps 11 is provided at itsfront edge with a depending apron or shield 13 comprising the verticalleg of an angle iron, which extends across the lower end of the tier ofsteps 11, and has its horizontal leg or flange secured to the under sideof the tread 12. This apron 13extends downwardly from the tr'eadl2 aconsiderable distance, substantiallyhalf the. height of one of therisers 1 1 of the steps, and is adapted to entirely house and close infrom view the improved mechanism, which will 110W be described.

A hinge shaft 15 is secured at its opposite ends to the side 16 of thesteps and lies closely in the angle between the tread 12 and the apron13 It is, of course, understood that the apron 13 may be secured to thetread 12 in any other suitable manner than as shown, it only beingnecessary that the upper ends for rotatable engagement upon the shaft tothus hinge the riser 17 on the shaft. The lower ends of the straps 19are turned abruptly forward to provide seating shoulders 20 upon whichthe lower ends of the risers 17 rest The forward extremities of thestrap 19 arelooped to provide eyes 21 for hinge engagement upon a secondtransverse hinge shaft 22. This hinge shaft 22 constitutes a connectionbe- .tween the riser l7 and the folding tread 18. The tread 1 8 has uponits under side two ornore straps 23 secured transversely thereacross,and being looped at their inner ends for engagement over and about thehinge shaft 22. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the rear ends of thestraps 23 are turned abruptly upward to form seating shoulders againstwhich the inner edge of the tread 18 is adapted to rest. The straps 23terminate against the under side of the tread 18 short of the outer edgethereof, the outer edge being reinforced by a longitudinal strap 24,which preferably engages at 1ts inner edge against the extremities ofthe straps 23. Thetread 18 is held in extended position, and in a truehorizontal position by means of pairs of links 25 and 26. The upperlinks 25 are hinged upon the shaft 15 adjacent to its opposite ends, andextend down and have pivotal connection by means of pins 27, with theupper ends of the links 26. The lowerends of the links 26 are rotatablymounted upon pins 28 projecting longitudinally from the strip 24 carriedbeneath the tread 18, the links 26 being held upon the pins 28 by nuts29, or the like. The upper extremities of the links 26 extend. beyondthe pivot'pins 27 and are provided upon their lower or inner edges wlthinturned lips or stops 30, which engage against the lower edges of theupper'links 25 to hold the links 25 and 26 from straightening orbuckling outward. This insures the easy. closing of the links as thesame are always in position to buckle inwardly and thus admit of thefolding of the tread 18 V against the outer face of the riser 17.

The tier of steps 11 carries most of the operatin mechanismtherebeneath, the mechanism being supported upon a pair of anglebrackets 31, each of which has one arm arranged vertically and securedto the adjacent side 16 near the top of the steps, while its oppositearm projects outwardly substantially in line with the lowermost fixed65, tread l2, asclearlyshown in Figs l and 2 the path of the shoulders38.

of the drawings. In the angles of these brackets 31 is journaled theopposite ends of an operating shaft 32, which is turned by any suitablemechanism, such as by means of a handle 33. As shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, the handle 33 comprises a relatively flat elongated bar havingan upstanding hand engaging portion 34, and provided with a socket 35 atits inner end for the reception of the upper end of a handle shaft 36. aThe shafts 36 extend downwardly through a supporting plate or guide 37,which is secured in any convenient manner to the platform of the car 10.The handle 33 is locked in its opposite positions, one position beingshown in Fig. 4, wherein the improved car step mechanism is collapsed orfolded, and the opposite position being shown in Fig. 3, wherein the carstep is extended. For locking the handle 33 in its opposite positions,the plate 37 is provided at each side of the shaft 36 with a shoulder orstop 38 adapted to receive thereagainst a lug 39 depending from a fingerlatch 40, which is pivoted upon theangle of the handle 33 and whichextends inwardly along the upper side of the handle. The lug 39 projectsdownwardly through a slot or opening formed in the handle and into thepath of the shoulders or stops 38. As shown in Fig. 4,.the stops orshoulders 38 are provided with inclined faces adapted to receive andraise the lug 39, as the handle 33 approaches the stops 38. The lug 39is adapted to snap down behind the shoulders 38 and thus lock the lever33 from turning into opposite position until it is released by theoperation of the finger latch 40. A leaf spring 41 is carried upon theupper face of the lever andbears at its free end upon the horizontalportion of the finger lever 40 to yieldingly hold the lug 39 down intoThe handle shaft 36 passes downwardly through a bearing 42 in the floorof the car platform and ondown into juxtaposition to the operating shaft32. Bevelgears 43 connect the operating shaft 32 to the handle shaft 36to thus turn the operating shaft when the handle 33 is actuated. It willbenoted that the gear 43 on the operating shaft 32 is fixed upon anouter extremity of the operating shaft which extends beyond the adjacentside bracket 31, so that the gears, or the connection between theoperating shaft and the handle is located outside of the, verticalplanes of the side 16 of the tier of steps 11.

As may be seen from Fig. 11, the operating shaft may be actuated in adifferent manner, such as by positioning upon the outer end of theoperating shaft 32 a pinion 43 and meshing a rack bar 36 with the pin-,ion. The rack bar 36 is mounted,'prefer- -ably beneath the platform ofthe car, in the lower end of, a bearing 42 and isconnected to a cylinder33 for reciprocating the rack bar 36 to thus rotate the pinion 43 ineither direction. Fluid, such as compressed air, steam, or the like, maybe admitted to the piston 33" through one or more pipes 34 leading tothe cylinder 33 Thus, the operating shaft may be rotated in oppositedirections by hand power, or by fluid power.

The operating shaft 32 is provided with a pair of radial arms 44 and 45,the same being adjustably mounted upon the operating shaft 32 by setscrews 46, or the like. The outer ends are bifurcated or split edgewiseto provide sockets 47 in which are received the inner ends of links 48,which extend forwardly from the outer ends of the arms 44 and 45, andhave pivotal engagement upon the opposite outer ends of the hinge shaft22, which connects the riser 17 to the tread 18 of the folding step. Theinner ends of the links 48 are offset downwardly, as at 49 to admit ofthe complete folding of the step and the turning of the arms 44 and intosuch position as to dispose the line of draft through the links 48substantially through the central axis of the operating shaft 32. Itwill be noted from examining Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that thetread 18 is not only drawn backwardly by the links 48 and arms 44 and45, but that it is also inclined backwardly at a slight angle, so as toraise its forward edge up behind the apron 13. This tilting action ofthe tread 18 is accomplished by means of a guiding arm 50, which issecured against the under side of the tread 18 and projects backwardlybeneath and out of contact with the hinge shaft 22, and is bent up intoproximity to the operating shaft 32. The rear end of the guiding arm 50is provided with a loop 51 receiving there through the shaft 32 andbeing bent intermediate its ends into angle formation to hold the step18 first in its true horizontal position, and to subsequently, when theforward edge of the tread 18 reaches a point beneath or slightly in rearof the plane of the apron 13, raise or tilt the forward edge of thetread 18 and guide it into the position shown in Fig. 1, as the links 48draw the'hinge shaft 22 rearwardly.

Each bracket 31 is provided with a depending rest or support 52, thesame being in the form of astrap secured to the horizontal arm of eachbracket 31 and extending downwardly and inwardly from the same, andhaving upon its lower end an inturned lip against which the lower edgeof the adj a cent link 48 is adapted to seat. This limits the downwardmovement of the links 48 and holds them in position where they may beeasily raised, and also firmly supports the tread 18, when opened.

Each end of the tierof steps 11 is provided with a depending apron orshield 53, which is in the form of sheet metal, as shown to advantage inFig. 4, secured along its upper edge to the adjacent side 16 of the tierof steps and depending sufiiciently to close in the operating shaft,links, and other devices, which are depended upon for folding andunfolding the step 18. It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 5 that thelower ends 54 of the shields or aprons 53 are spread outwardly toaccommodate the links 25 and 26 when extended, and to house the samewhen they are collapsed. In the present instance, the aprons 53 and13are disclosed as being separately formed and secured to the tier ofsteps 11. It, however, is to be understood that these aprons, or apronsections, may be made in any desired manner, which is found suitable andconvenient in manufacture and application, and that it is not necessaryto adhere to the specific formation herein described.

Each side of the platform of the car 10 is provided with a trap door 55adapted to close the space at the top of the steps 11 and to form acontinuation of the floor of the platform, when the steps are not to beused. It is a purpose of this invention to provide a novel connectingmeans between the trap door 55 and the folding step 18, so that the stepand the trap door may simultaneously operate to open and close, and sothat it will not be necessary. to efi'ect this action by two separate orindependent operations. This connecting means comprises an arm 56 whichextends substantially vertically beneath the tier of steps 11, and has afor wardly and downwardly curved projection 57, as best seen in Fig. 10of the drawings, and has a laterally extending pin 58 for en gagement inan opening or bearing in the inner end of the innermost arm 44 of theoperating shaft. It will be noted from Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the pin 58is mounted eccentric to the operating shaft 32, so that upon therotation of the shaft, the pin 58 is given eccentric movement to raiseand lower the arm 56. The upper end of the arm 56 is received in thefork 59 of a coupling head 60. which extends horizontally inward fromthe upper end of the arm 56. The coupling head 60 has upon its inner endan enlarged rounded head portion with a vertical opening therethrough toslidably receive therein the depending threaded shank 61 of a rack bar62, which projects upwardly from the coupling head 60 and through thebottom of the platform of the car. The trap door is hinged at its inneredge to the inner side of the platform adjacent the body of the car 10,as shown in the drawings. The trap door 55 is fixed at its inner edge toa pivot rod 63 mounted for rotation in strap bearings 64 secured to thebody of the car and admitting of the free rotation of the pivot rod 63therein. On the inner end of the rod 63 is fixed a pinion segment 65,meshing with the rack 62. The segment is of suf ficient size to admit ofthe swinging of the door 55 through an angle of ninety degrees,

or from a closed horizontal position into an open vertlcal position.Counter-sunkin the floor of the platform of the car 18 a guiding casing66 adapted to receive upwardlytherener side with a leaf spring 67 fixedat one end against the wall of thecasing 66, and, having its oppositeend bearing against the. .lower end of the rack bar 62, to normally.

urge the rack bar outof contact with the segment 65.

16 is normally broken so that the step and the door may be separatelyand independ-.

ently actuated. In the forwardside of the guiding casing 16, a tumblingblock 68 is ing of the trap door 55 may be quickly ads justed accordingto the movements ofthe hinged upon a pin 69 extending transverselythrough the guiding casing 66, and having eccentric faces 70 and 71adapted for alternate engagement against the forward side of the rackbar 62. As will be particularly noted from Fig. 8, the abutting face 71lies closer to the pivotal axis of the tumbling block 68 than does theabutting face 70. The abutting face 70 is, therefore, arranged toadvance the rack bar 62 against, the segment 65, while the face 71, whenpresented.

to the rack bar, admits of the retraction thereof under the action of.the leaf spring A boss or hub 72 projects through the 67 side of thecasing 66 and is preferably integral with the tumbling block 68. Theouter end of this boss or tubular projection has fixed thereon a linkarm 73, provided in its outer end with a longitudinal slot 74. A

sliding bolt 75 is mounted against the outer end of the car body 10 in avertical position and adjacent to the trap door 55. This slidin bolt 75,as may be best seen in Figs. 6 and? is held in position for slidingmovement by straps 76 secured to the car body in vertically spacedrelation. A stop shoulder 77 is formed upon the lower end of the bolt75, and projects outwardly therefrom and is adapted for contact with thelowermost strap 76 to retain the sliding bolt in position and to limitits upward movement. An outturned lip 78 is formed upon the upper end ofthe bolt 75 and constitutes a hand or finger grasp to enable the easyoperation of the bolt. The lower end of the bolt 75 has a lateral offsetportion 79, which projects down through the floor of the platform, andis curved outwardly at its lower end to provide a horizontal arm 80,which, when the sliding bolt 75 is raised, lies in substantially; thehorizontalv plane of the tumbling block Thus, the connection between:the folding step 18 and the hinged trap door.

' links 518 :1116. arms 5 14: and 45. c

68, and which hasafinger 81 upon its outer end projecting into theslot74L of the link .arm 73. It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the arm isrecessed in one side for the reception of, the slotted end of the linkarm 73, and to admit of the free swinging movement ofthe link arm, asthe bolt arm 1s raised... and lowered.

,When the handle operating mechanism,

shownin the drawings in Figs. 3 and 4, is

.used, the gears 43 are preferably protected or housed by a casing 82,which surrounds thelower end of the handle shaft 36 and coversthe sidesand outer end of the shaft 32, so as to. ward off dust, dirt, rain andthe like, which would otherwise clog up the teeth and, .rust out thegears.

F rom. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10 of the'drawings,

it will be noted that thethreaded depending shank of the rack bar 62 isadjustably held in the coupling head 60, bymeans of the usual bindingnuts, which engage against the upper and. lower sides of the couplinghead. In this manner, the openingand closfolding. step. I In theoperation ofthe present device, when the step is folded and the door isclosed, asshown in Figs. 1 and 4: of the latter through the. gears 43',turns the operating shaft 32. The shaft 32 is turned. forwardly so as toraise the rear outer ends of thearms 1 1 and 45, and to thus swing thelinks 48 upwardly and forwardly, into the position shown in Fig. 2. Asthe links 48 are thrust. forwardly by the arms 1 1 and 45, the riser 17is swung downwardly and outwardly about the hinge shaft 16, and thetread 18, which moves with the riser 17 and is hinged to the bottomthereof, is held by the guide. arm 50 in its substantiallyhorizontalposition during the swinging of the riser 17. The guide arm 50holds the tread 1.8 in its horizontal position until the links 25 and 26are fully extended and are interlocked by means of the stop 30. Thus,the links 25 and 26 relieve the arm 50 of all strain incident to weightplacedv 0n the lower tread 18 whenextended. When the links 18 are thrustforwardly to hold the riser 17 in its foremost position, the links 4:8rest onv thestops 52, and, the depending projections or offset pivotpoints of the links lie below the rests 52 to thus hold the links inlocked position, so that any tendency to swing the riser 17 back beneaththe tier of steps 11 will be prevented by interlocked As the innerarmtetis turned, by the rotation of the operating shaft 32, theforwardly curved projection 57 of the coupling arm 56 is swung firstbackwardly and then forwardly from a position beneath the operatingshaft as shown in Fig. 1, to a position immediately over the operatingshaft as shown in Fig. 2. This circular movement of the projection 57 ispermitted as the arm 56 is free to swing in the fork 59 of the couplinghead. The coupling head is supported on the arm 56 and is thus raisedfrom its lower position, in Fig. 1, to its uppermost position, shown inFig. 2. The rise and fall of the coupling head 60 moves the rack bar 62'up and down through the guiding casing 66, and thus rocks the segment 65to open and close the door 55 by the turning of the operating shaft 32in opposite directions. As the spring 67 normally urges the rack bar 62out of engagement with the segment 65, the swinging of the tumblingblock 68 into the position shown in Fig. 6, or wherein the bearing face71 is turned into engagement with the rack bar 62 causes the spring 67to force the rack bar62 outwardly away from the segment 65, and thusdisconnects the door 55 from the step operating mechanism. When it isdesired to actuate the tumbling block 68, the operator grasps the lip 78of the sliding bolt 75, and draws the latter upwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 6, which upward movement is limited by the engagement ofthe stop77 against the lowermost strap 76. During this upward movement,the horizontal arm 80 is drawn up against the side of the casing 66, andas the finger 81 projects inwardly for engagement in the longitudinalslot 7 4 of the link arm 73, the latter is swung upwardly to release therack bar 62, as shown in Fig. 6. When it is desired to couple the door55 to the rack bar, the sliding bolt is forced down through the straps76, the arm turning the arm 73 down into the position shown in Fig. 3,to turn the tumbling block 68 and present the abutting face or edge 70against the outer side of the rack 62 and force the latter inwardly intoengagement with the segment 65. It is, of course, understood that inorder to obtain the correct adjustment of the arts, it is necessary tohave the tread 18 un olded or extended when the door 55 is fully openand to at that time couple the parts together. Of course, the desiredadjustment may be had by coupling the closed door to the folded step, sothat any operation of the shaft 32 will simultaneously operate themembers to provide a free passage up to the platform, or will entirelyclose the passage.

It will be noted, particularly from Figs. 1 and 2, that when the door 55is closed and the folding step is also closed, the connecting arm 56 islowered and the projection 57 at the lower end thereof extends beneaththe operating shaft 32, so as to dispose the pivot pin 58 at the lowestpoint in its circular path. Thus, any tendency to force the door 55 openwill be resisted by the direct upward pull of the pin or pivot 58beneath the shaft 32 and the door 55 is thus held in locked position. InFig. 2, the door 55 is opened or raised, and the pivot 58 is arrangedimmediately above the operating shaft 32, and in line with the center ofgravity thereof, so that the weight of the door is supported by thepivot pin 58, without any tendency to turn the shaft 32, the operatingparts of the device being, therefore, locked in either open or closedposit1on.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maybe made in the above outlined specific embodiment of the presentinvention, such changes being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device as specified, a platform having a tierof fixed steps, a folding step at the bottom of said fixed steps,operating means for folding and extending the folding step locatedbeneath the fixed steps, and an apron depending from the sides and fromthe front of the tier of fixed steps to house said folding step and itsoperating means and protect the same from the weather.

2. In a device as specified, a platform having a tier of fixed steps, ariser hinged to the forward edge of the lowermost step, a tread hingedto the bottom of the riser, means for folding the riser against theunder side of the step and for folding the tread up against the riser,an apron depending from the forward edge of said fixed step andextending downwardly a distance equal to one half the height of theriser to receive the riser thereagainst when the latter is swung down,and to receive therebehind the riser and said tread when folded upwardlyagainst said fixed step to house and protect the riser and the tread,and lateral aprons carried by Said tier of steps for closing in saidfolding means to protect the same against the weather.

3. In a device as specified, the combination with a folding step, of anoperating shaft for extending and collapsing the step, an armeccentrically connected to the shaft and adapted to be raised andlowered thereby, a coupling head hinged upon the upper end of said arm,a rack bar adjustably mounted on the coupling head, a hinged door, and asegment connected to the hinged door for engagement with the rack barwhereby upon the rotation of said shaft to actuate the step and swingsaid door.

4. In a device as specified, the combination with a hinged door, afolding step, and

operating means for actuating the step in cluding an operating shaft, ofa vertical arm having an outwardly projecting extension pivotally andeccentrically connected to said shaft whereby to raise and lower the armupon the rotation of the shaft, a coupling head hinged upon the upperend of the arm, a rack bar adjustably mounted in the coupling head andprojecting upwardly therefrom, a segment connected to said door andmeshing with said rack bar whereby to actuate the door upon the movementof the rack bar, a spring normally urging the rack bar out ofengagementv with the segment, and a tumbling block eccentrically mountedagainst the outer side of the rack and adapted when turned to move therack into and out of engagement with the segment.

5. In a device as specified a folding step, means for operating the stepincluding an operating shaft, means for turning said shaft, an armeccentrically mounted on said shaft, a coupling head connected to theupper end of the arm, a rack bar having a depending threaded shank foradjustable engagement through said coupling head, a guiding casingsurrounding said rack bar to hold the same in vertlcal position, ahinged door, a pinion segment connected to the door concentrictherewith, and adapted to mesh with said rack bar to actuate the.

door, a spring in the casing bearing against said rack bar to retractthe same from said pinion segment, a tumbling block eccentricallymounted in the casing against the outer side of the rack bar, a link armconnected to said tumbling block and lying against the outer side of thecasing, a sliding bolt arranged adjacent the door and having a laterallyoffset portion projecting down against one side of the casing, ahorizontal arm projecting outwardly from the sliding bolt for engagementagainst the outer side of said link arm, said horizontal arm having arecess in its inner edge to receive said link arm therein, whereby saidhorizontal arm is adapted to lie close against the side of the casing,and an inwardly projecting finger carried by said horizontal arm adaptedto engage in the link portion of said link arm to swing the latter uponthe up and down movement of the sliding bolt.

6. In a device as specified, a folding step, operating means for thefolding step including an operating shaft, an arm connected to the shaftfor vertical movement thereby, a rack baradjustably mounted on the arm,a door pivoted above said shaft, a segment concentric with the door,means for normally urging the rack bar away from said segment, and aconnecting means engaging the rack bar for forcing the latter againstthe segment to actuate the door upon the rotation of said shaft. a

7. In a device as specified, a folding step,

operating means for said step, including a shaft, a rack bar connectedto the shaft for vertical movement thereby, a guiding casing surroundingthe rack bar, a hinged door,

a segment concentric with the door, means within the casing to hold therack bar out of contact with said segment, a tumbling block in thecasing havingan abutting edge for engagement with the rack bar, asliding bolt, and a connection between said bolt and said tumblingblock, whereby tO 'II1OY6 said rack bar against the segment and hold itin such position and to release the rack bar from the segment. Y

8. In a device as specified, a car platform having a fixed tier ofsteps, a riser hinged to the lower end of the tier of steps, a treadhinged to the lower edge of the riser, operating means for swinging saidriserdownwardly into vertical position, and swinging the tread outwardlytherefrom and an apron depending from the lowermost tread of the tier ofsteps, and extending downwardly half the height of said hinged riser for:closing in the riser and the tread when folded, and adapted to receivethe riser against its inner side, when the riser is swung downwardlyinto vertical position.

9. In. a device as specified, a'foldingstep, a hinged trap door, anoperating shaft connected to said step to fold and. extend the same whenturned in opposite, directions, and an arm connected to said hingeddoor, and having eccentric connection with said shaft, whereby to raiseand lower the door upon the turning of the shaft in opposite directions,the connection between saidarm and the shaft being, disposed above theshaft in the line of the center of gravity thereof, when thedoor israised, whereby to lock the door in raised position,fand being adaptedto lie beneath the shaft in the line of the center of gravity thereof,when the door is closed to lock the door in closed position.

10, In a device as specified, an operating shaft, a horizontally hingeddoor above the shaft, a pinion segment concentric with the door,'avertically movable rack bar meshing with said segment, a coupling headcarried upon the lower end of the rack bar, an arm hinged to thecouplinghead, and extending downwardly toward the shaft, andlhaving anoutwardly projecting portion pivotally and eccentrically connectedto theshaftland adapted, when the door is raised,f,t,o extend outwardly overthe shaft, and adapted to extend, when the door is lowered,'outwardlybeneath the shaft, itolock thedoor in its raised and in its closedpositions.

11. In a device asjspecified, the ,combi. nation with a folding, step,of an operating shaft for extendingand collapsing the step, an armeccentrically connected to the shaft and adapted to be raised andlowered there-v by, a hinged door, a segment connected to the door, arack bar meshing with the segment to swing the door upon the movement ofthe rack bar, and an adjustable connection between the rack bar and saidarm to actuate the rack bar upon the turning of the a shaft and to Varythe relative positions of the door and the folding step.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

AREY V. WINEGARDEN.

Witnesses:

W'. H. LUCRAFT, DORRIS FOWLER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

